Londonderry

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Region: Northern Ireland
Country: Northern Ireland

§ This page provides an overview of an officially designated city in the UK, bringing together various information to help you better understand this city.

Londonderry (also known as Derry) traces its civic standing to royal charters—first in 1604 and then in 1613 under James I, the latter establishing the city and mayoralty during the Plantation of Ulster. From walled city and port to textile and engineering centre, its contemporary economy blends higher education, digital industries and tourism anchored by the historic walls, Peace Bridge and riverfront. Since 1 April 2015 it has formed part of the unitary Derry City and Strabane District Council created by the Northern Ireland local government reform (26 councils reduced to 11), which coordinates regeneration, cross-border cooperation and city-region projects across the wider northwest.

City Council Status

Derry City and Strabane District Council is the unitary principal authority (since 2015) serving the historic city of Londonderry. The council’s name includes 'City', but there is no separate city council for Londonderry.

In the UK, a city is not defined by size or population but by formal status granted by the monarch, often through historical charters or, more recently, civic honours competitions. There are 76 officially recognised cities, some of which are relatively small compared to other urban areas. In contrast, local authority districts (361 in total) are administrative areas created for local government purposes and may include a mix of urban centres, suburbs, and rural communities. Within districts, there may be one or more towns, which generally refer to sizeable urban settlements but do not hold city status unless it has been formally granted. In practice, a city can exist within a district, and a district can cover multiple towns, showing the clear distinction between legal status, administrative boundaries, and everyday usage.

Cities in Northern Ireland